Handgrip multiple switch assembly including rotatable handle and universal joy stick type control

ABSTRACT

A post swingable on a support is connected to a first switch on the support for actuating the same by swinging movement of the post. A sleeve rotatable on the post is connected to a second switch for actuating the same by rotation of the sleeve. The sleeve has a cross bar with a tubular hand grip rotatable thereon, and the hand grip is connected to a third switch for actuating the same by rotation of the hand grip. A fourth switch such as a push button switch may be provided on the hand grip. The arrangement permits selective actuation of the several switches by one hand.

United States Patent [191 Adkinson 1 Mar. 27, 1973 [541 HANDGRIP MULTIPLE SWITCH ASSEMBLY INCLUDING ROTATABLE HANDLE AND UNIVERSAL JOY STICK TYPE CONTROL [76] Inventor: Fred H. Adkinson, PO. Box 158, Minneola, Fla. 32755 [22] Filed: Jan. 20, 1972 211 App]. No.2 219,387

[52] U.S. CI ..200/157, 200/6 A, 200/18 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,841,659 7/1958 Eitel ..200/157 X 3,283,088 11/1966 Scow et a1. ....200/157 X 2,661,402 12/1953 Balch ....200/157 X 3,142,227 7/1964 Stringer ..200/157 X Primary ExaminerJ. R. Scott Attorney-Munson H. Lane et a1.

[57] ABSTRACT A post swingable on a support is connected to a first switch on the support for actuating the same by swinging movement of the post. A sleeve rotatable on the post is connected to a second switch for actuating the same by rotation of the sleeve. The sleeve has a cross bar with a tubular hand grip rotatable thereon, and the hand grip is connected to a third switch foractuating the same by rotation of the hand grip. A fourth switch such as a push button switch may be provided on the hand grip. The arrangement permits selective actuation of the several switches by one hand.

10 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENHiUHmmm FIG.

IIANDGRIP MULTIPLE SWITCH ASSEMBLY INCLUDING ROTATABLE HANDLE AND UNIVERSAL JOY STICK TYPE CONTROL This invention relates to new and useful improvements in controls or actuators for a plurality of electrical switches which are related to concurrent or sequential operations of a machine, the principal object of the invention being to provide a very simple but highly effective control whereby several such switches may be selectively actuated by only one hand.

Various types of machinery such as cranes, excavators, fruit pickers, et cetera, have movable components such as booms, scoops, baskets, and the like, which are moved by hydraulic or pneumatic operators, and the operation of these is controlled by valves, either manually actuated valves or solenoid valves actuated remotely by electric switches. In such machines it is desirable to actuate the various movable components not only sequentially, but also concurrently in a coordinated manner so that their respective functions may be simultaneously performed to produce a unitary result with optimum speed and effectiveness.

This requires hand control of several valves or switches at one time, and if such valves or switches are actuated individually, the procedure is quite time-consuming and complicated so that coordination of movements and optimum operating speed of the machine are not fully realized.

The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of individual switch actuation by providing a control whereby several switches may be actuated either sequentially or concurrently by only one hand and in a manner closely related to natural hand movements.

The control of the invention is simple in construction, highly efficient in operation, and lends itself to economical manufacture.

With the foregoing more important object and features in view and such other objects and features which may become apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention will be understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters of reference designate like parts, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view ofa casing accommodating two one-hand controls of the invention, that is, a left-hand control and a'right-hand control;

rock shaft 14 journalled in bearing brackets on the FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the right-hand control,

taken in the direction of the arrow 2 in FIG. 1 and with the casing broken away;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the casing with the right-hand control shown in elevation; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 44 in FIG. 3.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the numeral 10 in FIG. 1 generally designates a box-like casing whichmay have an openable top 11 mounted by a pair of hinges 12. The casing accommodates two separate one-hand controls of the invention, as for example a left-hand control designated C-L and a right-hand control designated C-R. This designation is arbitrary and could be reversed, depending upon whether the operator is sitting in front of or behind the casing 10 as viewed in FIG. 1. In any event, the two controls C-L and C-R are similar in construction so that a description of one will suffice for both.

casing bottom 13. An upwardly extending post 16 is secured at its lower end to the rock shaft 14 so that the post may swing within limits in a vertical plane as indicated at 17 in FIG. 2. An offset bracket 18 is rigidly secured to one side of the lower end portion of the post 16, and one end of a link 19 is pivotally connected to the bracket 18 as at 20. The other end of the link 19 is pivotally connected as at 21 to an actuating arm 22 of 1 an electrical switch 8-! which is mounted on the casing bottom 13 by a bracket 23. The switch S-l may be either a simple on-off switch which is closed or opened by throwing the arm 22 in one direction or the other, or it may be a double-throw switch with an open central position. In any event, the throwing movement of the switch arm 22 is in a direction parallel to the swinging movement of the post 16, and it will be apparent that by moving the post fore and aft as indicated at 17, the connecting link 19 will correspondingly throw the arm 22 of the switch 8-] to actuate the same.

A sleeve 24 is rotatably positioned on the upper portion of the post 16 and projects upwardly through a slot 25 in the top 11 of the casing 10, the slot being long enough to permit fore and aft movement of the sleeve and post as at 17 as required for actuation of the switch 8-1. The upper end of the sleeve 24 carries a transverse handle designated generally as H, whereby the sleeve with the post may be moved fore and aft as at 17, and also whereby the sleeve may be rotated within limits on the post 16, as indicated at 26 in FIG. 2.

A second switch 8-2 is rigidly secured by a bracket 27 to the lower portion of the post 16, and the actuating arm 28 of the switch 8-2 is operatively connected by a link 29 to a lever 30 which is secured to the lowerend portion of the sleeve 24. The switch 8-2, the link 29 and the crank 30 of course move as a unit with the post 16 and sleeve 24 in the fore and aft direction 17 for actuation of the first switch 8-]. However, when the sleeve 24 is partially rotated on the post 16 as at 26, the switch S-2 remains stationary and is actuated through the link 29 and crank 30 by the rotational movement of the sleeve.

Resilient means may be provided to bias the sleeve and post in one direction and to simultaneously bias the sleeve to a position central between its limits of rotation on the post. Such means may comprise a pair of tension springs 31 disposed above the top 11 of the casing 10 and connected at one end thereof to a suitable anchor point, as for example one of the hinges 12, as indicated at 32. The springs 31 are mutually divergent and their other ends are connected to end portions of a cross strap 33 which is secured to the sleeve 24. The springs pull with equal force on the cross strap so that the sleeve 24 is biased to a central position between its limits of rotation on the post 16, thus holding the switch 8-2 in its central or neutral position. The springs 31 also simultaneously pull the sleeve 24 and post 16 in the direction of the hinge 12 so that the arm 22 of the switch 8-1 is thrown in the same direction, which may be either the open or the closed position of that switch, or one of its closed positions if it is a double-throw switch.

The aforementioned handle H consists of a cross bar 34 which is secured to the upper end of the sleeve 24 and is contained within a tubular or cylindrical hand grip 35. The hand grip is provided with an opening 36 which is large enough to permit a limited amount of rotation of the hand grip on the cross bar, as indicated at 37 in FIG. 2. A third switch S-3 is rigidly secured by a bracket 38 to the lower end portion of the sleeve 24 and its actuating arm 39 is connected by a link 40 to a crank member 41 which is secured to the hand grip 35. Thus, by partially rotating the hand grip 35 on the cross bar 34 as indicated at 37, the crank member 41 and the link 40 will actuate the switch S-3.

Finally, a fourth switchsuch as a push button switch S-4 may be provided on the hand grip 35 for actuation by finger pressure.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that by using only one hand on the hand grip 35, the operator may move the sleeve 24 and post 16 back and forth to actuate the switch S-l. By turning the hand grip to one side or the other, the operator may actuate the switch S-2, and by rotating the hand grip on the cross bar 34, he may actuate the switch S-3. Moreover, by finger pressure he may also actuate the push button switch -4. These various movements, which are closely related to natural movements of the hand, may be performed either selectively in succession, orconcurrently in any desired combination to actuate the'several switches as desired by only one hand.

In some environments of use, the various switches may operate electric motors or different electrical circuits, or they may open and close solenoid valves for controlling the operation of hydraulic or pneumatic' cylinders or hydraulic or pneumatic motors. The use of the invention is by no means limited to any particular environment, but an example may be given of a fruit picking machine having a picker head carried by a boom which may be raised or lowered as well as swung horizontally and telescoped, the picker head being projectable and retractable on the boom, and pivotally mounted to the boom for swinging in horizontal and vertical planes, all actuated by hydraulic motors through solenoid valves in circuit with switches actuated by the controls OR and C-L. An operator with his right hand on the control C-R may control various motions of the fruit picker head, and other movable components associated with the fruit picker head by actuating the switches 8-1, 8-2, 8-3 and 8-4. With his left hand on the control C-L the operator may control the various motions of the boom supporting the picker head by actuating a second set of switches comparable with 8-1, 8-2, 8-3 and 8-4. The motions of the picker head and of the boom may thus be controlled independently by the right and left hands of the operator on the controls C-R and C-L. The push button switch S-4 may be omitted from one or both of the controls C-L and C- R if it is not necessary for the apparatus being controlled. The second control unit need not have the fourth switch 4 on the hand grip 35, if not necessary.

The use of controls C-L and C-R in combination with a fruit picking machine are disclosed in a companion patent application filed by the applicant in the present case and Louis T. Staats in which the fruit picking machine is claimed.

While in the foregoing there has been described and shown the preferred embodiment of the invention, various modifications and equivalents may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. In a one-hand control for selectively actuating a plurality of electrical switches, the combination of a support, a post swingably mounted on said support for fore and aft movement, a first switch mounted on said support, a first link operatively connecting said post to said first switch for actuating the latter by fore and aft movement of the post, a sleeve rotatable within limits on said post, a second switch mounted on the post, a second link operatively connecting said sleeve to said second switch for actuation of the latter by rotation of the sleeve on the post, and a handle provided on the sleeve for rotating the same, said handle comprising a cross bar secured to said sleeve and a tubular hand grip rotatable within limits on said cross bar, together with a third switch mounted on said sleeve, and a third link operatively connecting said hand grip to said third switch for actuating the latter by rotation of a hand grip on the cross bar.

2. The deviceas defined in claim 1 together with a push button switch provided on said handle.

3. The device as defined in claim 1 together with a push button switch provided on the hand grip of said handle.

4. The device as defined in claim 1 together with resilient means biasing said post in one direction.

5. The device as defined in claim 1 together with resilient means biasing said sleeve to a position central between the limits of its rotation on said post.

6. The device as defined in claim 1 together with resilient means biasing said post in one direction and simultaneously biasing said sleeve to a position central between the limits of its rotation on said post. i 7. The device as defined in claim 1 together with a casing having a bottom which constitutes said support, said casing enclosing said switches and the lower portion of said post and of said sleeve, the casing also having a top provided with a slot through which said post and said sleeve project upwardly to carry said handle.

8. The device as defined in claim 1 together with a crank secured 'to said sleeve, said second link connecting said crank to said second switch.

9. The device as defined in claim 1 together with a crank member secured to the hand grip of said handle, said third link connecting said crank member to said third switch..

10. In a one hand control for selectively actuating a plurality of electrical switches the combination of a support, a non-extensible post swingably mounted on said support for fore and aft movement in a single plane, a first switch .mounted on said support, a first link operatively connecting said post to said first switch for actuating the latter by fore and aft movement of the post, an external one piece sleeve coaxially mounted on said post and rotatable within limits about said post, a second switch mounted on said post, a second link operatively connecting said sleeve to said switch for actuation of the latter by rotation of the sleeve on the post, and a handle provided on the sleeve for rotating the same, and means on said post against which said sleeve abuts for preventing axial movement of said sleeve relative to said post in the direction of said support. 5 

1. In a one-hand control for selectively actuating a plurality of electrical switches, the combination of a support, a post swingably mounted on said support for fore and aft movement, a first switch mounted on said support, a first link opEratively connecting said post to said first switch for actuating the latter by fore and aft movement of the post, a sleeve rotatable within limits on said post, a second switch mounted on the post, a second link operatively connecting said sleeve to said second switch for actuation of the latter by rotation of the sleeve on the post, and a handle provided on the sleeve for rotating the same, said handle comprising a cross bar secured to said sleeve and a tubular hand grip rotatable within limits on said cross bar, together with a third switch mounted on said sleeve, and a third link operatively connecting said hand grip to said third switch for actuating the latter by rotation of a hand grip on the cross bar.
 2. The device as defined in claim 1 together with a push button switch provided on said handle.
 3. The device as defined in claim 1 together with a push button switch provided on the hand grip of said handle.
 4. The device as defined in claim 1 together with resilient means biasing said post in one direction.
 5. The device as defined in claim 1 together with resilient means biasing said sleeve to a position central between the limits of its rotation on said post.
 6. The device as defined in claim 1 together with resilient means biasing said post in one direction and simultaneously biasing said sleeve to a position central between the limits of its rotation on said post.
 7. The device as defined in claim 1 together with a casing having a bottom which constitutes said support, said casing enclosing said switches and the lower portion of said post and of said sleeve, the casing also having a top provided with a slot through which said post and said sleeve project upwardly to carry said handle.
 8. The device as defined in claim 1 together with a crank secured to said sleeve, said second link connecting said crank to said second switch.
 9. The device as defined in claim 1 together with a crank member secured to the hand grip of said handle, said third link connecting said crank member to said third switch.
 10. In a one hand control for selectively actuating a plurality of electrical switches the combination of a support, a non-extensible post swingably mounted on said support for fore and aft movement in a single plane, a first switch mounted on said support, a first link operatively connecting said post to said first switch for actuating the latter by fore and aft movement of the post, an external one piece sleeve coaxially mounted on said post and rotatable within limits about said post, a second switch mounted on said post, a second link operatively connecting said sleeve to said switch for actuation of the latter by rotation of the sleeve on the post, and a handle provided on the sleeve for rotating the same, and means on said post against which said sleeve abuts for preventing axial movement of said sleeve relative to said post in the direction of said support. 